A Winning Celebration
It was a record breaking attendance in 2009 Dan Patch Days with over 15,000 guests visited Community Park over the 3 day period.

Before Secretariat... Seattle Slew... or War Emblem... there was Dan Patch. 
The only horse in racing history to break the two-minute barrier 35 times, Dan Patch startled the world with a record-breaking one mile pace of 1:55 minutes on September 8th, 1906 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Apart from his physical prowess, Dan Patch was a crowd pleaser and a hero to kids across America - as popular as Lassie and Rin Tin Tin. Dan Patch lived and trained in an elaborate horse stable built on the southern banks of the Minnesota River by his owner, M.W. Savage, a prominent Minneapolis businessman. When Dan Patch died in 1916, Savage died 32 hours later-an untimely death said to be caused by a broken heart. The local community was so fascinated with the fairy-tale story of Dan Patch and his owner that they decided to rename their City to Savage. Nearly hundred years later, the City of Savage continues to celebrate the horse’s great legacy with Dan Patch Days.

Dan Patch Days, June 24-27, is a family-focused event that offers something for everyone. Throughout the weekend, an estimated 10,000 people will come to the Community Park in Savage to enjoy wonderful food, fantastic entertainment, spectacular fireworks, a street parade and much more.

Each year, Dan Patch Days celebrates the most famous resident of the city of Savage. A horse named Dan Patch. Dan Patch has been called The King Of The Pacers, The World's Champion Harness Horse, The Great Dan Patch and the greatest harness horse in the history of the two-wheel sulky. The last owner of Dan Patch was Marion Savage, for whom the city of Savage is named. Savage was the founder and owner of the International Stock Food Company of Minneapolis. One of the largest firms of its kind in the early 1900s. Mr. Savage possessed a remarkable flair for showmanship and utilized Dan Patch to promote his business with phenomenal success.

Dan Patch Days Buttons ARE On Sale now

The Dan Patch Historical Society is selling 2010 Dan Patch Days commemorative buttons for $3 each. Purchase a button and you’re registered to win one of many great prizes in the Dan Patch Days Button Raffle. The grand prize is an Intarsia, or wood inlay sculpture, depicting the 2010 Dan Patch button. The Intarsia is being created by local Artist Jim Ryan and is valued at more than $500. Second prize is a full-color Savage historical blanket valued at $50. 

“The sale of buttons is a nice way for the community to support the celebration and to help us promote Dan Patch Days, “ said Jens Bohn, President of the Dan Patch Historical Society. Winners will be announced on Saturday afternoon, June 26, during Dan Patch Days in the Savage Community Park.  You can purchase a button via the Dan Patch Historical Society website www.danpatch.com and at Razor’s Edge Barber Shop, City Hall, the Public Library, in Savage.

Inclement Weather
Although event organizers hope for sunny skies, there is always a chance of rain or a summer storm. In the event of inclement weather, visit the Dan Patch Days Web site at www.danpatchdays.org for the most up-to-date information on the status of events, including closings or postponements.